The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-10-08

died. For about two years after the
death of his wife, he was employed as
clerk in hotels at Kingston, Canada, and
in the Estates" He then emigrated to
Florida with a company OF gentlemen
who purposed making some improve
ments there. Two years of his life were
passed there, part of the time in govern
mept employ having charge of gang Of
men building breakwaters and wharves,
also serving as deputy sheriff. Some
months OF the time we're given to Key
] West, where he followed the same occu-
pations as in Florida. He returned home
by the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi
and Illinois rivers, the stage from Peru,
ILL.,, TO Chicago and the lakes to his resi-
dence in Jefferson county, N. Y. While
passing through this section Of country,
he did not fail to notice the desirable
ness of this locality for permanent
home. During the winter Of 1884, he
again married, this time a resident OF
Jefferson county, Miss Lucy Otis, and
in the spring OF 1885, arrived in Chicago,
coming almost directly to Marseilles.
Lovel Kimball, who had laid out the
town the previous year, naming it from
Marseilles in France and hoped to make
it as great a manufacturing center as its
namesake, had married niece of Br.
Butterfeld and had persistently present
cd 20, hfv,a kt,a al Of
Eldorado in the most glowing colors.
Br. Butterfield was persuaded to cast his
lot in with the new town and bought an
acre of ground now lying just north Of
the Congregational church.
Soon after his arrival here, he was
elected justice Of the peace. He began
work on the mill dam, part OF Mr.. KIM
balls plan to improve the water power.
A manufacturing company was formed
of which Br. Butterfeld was member,
with large nominal capital to develop
all the various resources here presented.
These expectations were never realized
because Of the rascality of Mr.. Kimball.
On the acre which Br. Butterfeld bought
he erected log house for a hotel. In
1886 or 81, his second wife dying, he mar
ried Miss Sallie A. Rood. In 1888 he
purchased the farm where he died, and
for some years he managed the farm and
hotel at stage station near Morris, Ill.
In 1943 he moved on to the farm perma-
nently. By the third marriage there
were eight children, six sons and two
daughters. Mrs. Sallie A. Butterfeld died
Dec. 7, 1870
Br. Butterfield has always enjoyed the
confidence of his fellow citizens to a
large degree, holding various positions Of
profit and trust and there never has been
a single stain upon his character in any
| of his official acts. He gave the town he
lived in the same name as his birthplace,
such duty having been assigned to him
| by his neighbors.
He has always been a Universalist from
early life; in the times when it tried mems
souls to acknowledge such profession He
never had any other faith than that which
clings around Eternal Hope for erring
mortals. His wealth, accumulated by his
own industry and thrift, was freely given
to aid in advancing it's cherished themes.
He rarely missed Convention or Associ-
alton of the State bodies, and he always
gave to some OF the many appeals for
help that were presented on these occa-
sions. The last official act which he trans
acted with an officer of the church at
7 Marseilles was to ask the President of
the Board of Trustees. 'tif $1,000 wasn't
| about what our church should send to
the State Convention?' He replied that
sit was" "Well." said Br. Butterfeld,
"here it is-you see that it is sent ill.,"
and he handed out ten dollar bill for
that purpose.
The writer has been associated with b.
Butterfield for the past ten years in church
work at Marseilles and his fatheriy care
and wonderful energy, for one SO ad-
vanced in years has aided him and others
more than Br. Butterfeld ever knew. In
1884, our pastor, Rev. j. Straub, proposed
to the Sabbath-school that a pledge
against the use of intoxicants should be
written in our record book and all sign it.
Br. Butterfield signedit with the rest, hav-
ing remained to Sabbath. school. He said
at will be Of no use to me, but if L can
throw any influence that way, it may ben
eft Others"
The funeral services were held at the
house on Sunday, Sept. IS, the sermon
by Rev. A. Fl Laing, of Joliet, and the
music by the choir of the Marseilles
church, the church he had helped to or
ganize. When Rev. J. NJ. Day came here
in 1858 or SO to make beginning, it was
Br. Butterfeld's energy that materially
helped to found the church, and whose
constant attention has kept it from fail
ing in many dark hour. Br. Laing's SER
mon was the best funeral discourse he
has ever delivered in this vicinity. The
gathering together of the records of life
so full of good deeds, life made broader
and deeper by the constant exercise of
the principles of our faith, was fruitful
theme for contemplation. He spoke Of
Br. Butterield as his father in the church,
and though like all men he had faults,
yet he was good man and left a good
life for the coming generation to init ate